The work 'Flowers for Victory', by artist Patricia Castro Bohórquez, has won 2,584 votes (38%) in a competition marked by the debate over the use of artificial intelligence in the finalist proposals.
The Málaga artist Patricia Castro Bohórquez has been declared the winner of the Málaga Fair 2026 poster competition with her work 'Flowers for Victory'. The composition, presented this Tuesday at the City Hall of the capital, triumphed with 2,584 votes, which is 38% of the total votes cast.
The poster combines three symbolic elements: the image of Santa María de la Victoria, patron saint of Málaga; the typography with the slogan 'Málaga Fair'; and red carnations, a flower that the author links to "the people" and to the traditional floral offerings to religious images. The corporate blue of the city and the mantle of the Virgin of Victory is combined with the red of the carnations, which also colours the typography.
During the presentation event, Castro Bohórquez explained that the poster was born as a claim of Málaga's identity. "We are living in a time of loss of identity and it is up to us to prevent it from being lost," she stated. "It is we, the people of Málaga, who must choose what we want to tell about our city, our heritage, and our history. This poster for the Fair was born from that concern," she added.
The citizen voting, which this year has been marked by the debate surrounding the use of artificial intelligence in some of the finalist proposals, has awarded victory to a work of marked traditional character. In second place was 'The Lantern of Málaga', with 2,417 votes (36%), followed by 'Where the Light Dances', with 1,179 votes (17%). Completing the ranking were 'Málaga Fair' (409 votes, 6%) and 'White Shirt' (225 votes, 3%).
The selection of the poster comes less than a month before the start of the Málaga Fair, one of the most anticipated events of the year in the capital. The City Hall is finalising preparations for festivities that attract thousands of visitors each year and that in 2026 aim to reinforce local symbols.
The winning work will be featured in all official posters and promotional materials for the fair. The people of Málaga will be able to see 'Flowers for Victory' in the streets, in the media, and on the City Hall's social networks starting in the coming days.
Patricia Castro Bohórquez, a graduate in Fine Arts, has highlighted that her proposal "is not just a poster, but a message for the people of Málaga to feel proud of their land." The artist has confirmed that the design was created entirely using traditional techniques, without employing artificial intelligence, in response to the controversy that arose in this edition of the competition.
The Málaga Fair 2026 will officially kick off next August with a programme of activities that includes concerts, booths, equestrian shows, and religious events in honour of the patron saint. The poster 'Flowers for Victory' will be the image accompanying the city during these days of celebration.
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